Maple Walnut Pie
When you’re a baker who blogs (about baking), everything in life turns into an excuse to bake. And I’m not just talking about birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, Sunday dinners and such.
Your sister randomly says in conversation she loves apple pie. Upon realization that you have never made one, you make her come over the next weekend to try your first ever attempt complete with her favorite vanilla ice cream. (After this, she now “randomly” said she likes a bunch of other things. Hi sister!)
You get your hands on a coupon for free chocolate and despite the fact you have said like, um, 1000 times you don’t like chocolate, you take it as a sign from God that chocolate chip cookies need to come out of your oven in the near future.
You bake cookies the night before a vacation because, well, sightseeing will make you hungry and you don’t want to be over charged for snacks because you’re a tourist who doesn’t know better.
My latest excuse – My good friend is home recovering from surgery and even though she has never been one to express being crazy over dessert, I just had to bring something sweet to go along with the fixings for the dinner I was making her. Lucky for me (and her) she really enjoyed this Maple Walnut Pie. It’s really simple and straight forward but pretty awesome, if I must say so myself. I made it with a homemade crust, cuz that’s how I roll these days. But you can certainly make it with a store bought one. One step you will not want to skip in this recipe is the toasting of the walnuts. It takes this pie to all new levels of deliciousness.
As I typed this post, I realized this is quite similar to these divine Maple Walnut Muffins I made recently and in the same family as this Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie that got so many lovely comments from you all. But this pie here certainly stands on its own and one that all of you should try…pronto!
Maple Walnut Pie
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 9-inch prepared pie crust, do not pre-bake/blind bake
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 tablespoon bourbon
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon saltDirections:
Place a rack on the bottom third half of your oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes until they are evenly toasted and fragrant. Transfer them to a bowl and let them cool. Wipe down the baking sheet.
Spread the walnuts evenly on the bottom of the pie crust and place the crust on the baking sheet. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, cream, maple syrup, bourbon, flour and salt, making sure to break up the clumps of brown sugar and everything is evenly incorporated. Pour this mixture over the nuts in the pie crust.
Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown and the filling is just firm and puffed, about 40 minutes. Check the pie a few times during baking and if the crust is getting too dark, cover it with a piece of foil.
Let the pie cool completely before cutting. Note that in the cooling process, it will sink a bit.
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A Plum By Any Other Name — January 30, 2011 @ 11:47 am
I completely agree. Though I don’t always bake, any party or event is an excuse to offer up some treats. This works especially well because if I baked solely for home, I’d be forced to eat entire cakes and whole batches of cookies. (And by forced, I mean … how could I not?!)
Brian @ A Thought For Food — January 30, 2011 @ 12:22 pm
Maple is such an underused ingredient and I love that you’ve included it here. I know the noise I’d make if I had a bite of this.
Cynthia — January 30, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
I truly loved this pie! Thank you so much for baking it for me and for ‘sweetening’ up my day! XOXO. Just let me know when you need a taster for a Dominican Cake or tres leches! LOL.
Rosa — January 30, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
Two of my favorite ingredients! That pie must be very addictive.
Cheers,
Rosa
Amy at TheSceneFromMe — January 30, 2011 @ 1:34 pm
That crust looks to die for, so thin, buttery and crispy!
Yummy!
Megan — January 30, 2011 @ 1:51 pm
Looks tasty! I have a surplus of maple syrup right now and really should start trying some recipes that use it.
Angie's Recipes — January 30, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
Maple and walnuts…they are born to be together. This must have tasted heavenly.
JoVonn — January 30, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
I don’t think you can go wrong with maple and walnut. Yum!
ingrid — January 30, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
MMmmm, that is a fine looking pie and kudos to you for not only rocking this the pie but also the crust.
~ingrid
Bridgett — January 30, 2011 @ 9:28 pm
Now that is a delicious sounding (and looking!) pie. Maple just makes most sweets extra special. What a lucky friend…you are so sweet to have passed this along to make someone feel better.
Stephanie — January 30, 2011 @ 11:04 pm
So true! Everything becomes an occasion for baking. This pie looks divine!
Katrina — January 30, 2011 @ 11:35 pm
Yum to the pie. I would totally love it.
And I love this post–so true–us baker people must bake for everything, even the non-occasions.
shelly (cookies and cups) — January 31, 2011 @ 8:16 am
This sounds really sweet and delicious!
Amy — January 31, 2011 @ 9:40 am
You never ever need an excuse to make pie. Didn’t you get the memo? Looks AWE.SOME.
beth@thescreenporch — January 31, 2011 @ 10:56 am
I had forgotten what an amazing baker you are. I must stop in on a regular basis to get my own excuse to bake something wonderful. I have missed your site. I’ll be back ! B:)
Tracy — January 31, 2011 @ 11:29 am
Haha, I totally come up with excuses to bake all the time.
This pie looks lovely!
Mary — January 31, 2011 @ 11:51 am
This sounds wonderful. A bit like a pecan pie. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Baking is my Zen — January 31, 2011 @ 1:49 pm
I think I could live on pies…they are so good. Beautiful shots. Thanks for your congrats on my blog’s 2nd birthday!
Carmen
mickey — January 31, 2011 @ 3:42 pm
New to your blog, gonna go look around. Love the whole maple walnut pie idea. Yes I do get the whole gotta find an excuse to bake
Come over and enter my first give away.
mickey
http://monstermama-monstermama.blogspot.com/
Xiaolu — January 31, 2011 @ 5:35 pm
I love that there’s no corn syrup in this! Maple and walnut must taste so great together. I’m almost drooling just to think about it.
Hungry Sofia — January 31, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
I’m the same way. I’ll jump on any excuse to bake as long as I can give it away quickly! This pie looks amazing!
Pamela — January 31, 2011 @ 9:34 pm
Wow…this pie looks so good! I love Maple Walnut anything.
Sanura @ MyLifeRunsOnFood.com — January 31, 2011 @ 11:45 pm
I know this version nut pie is to love. It doesn’t look gooey and it’s made sans corn syrup. The maple syrup, bourbon, and brown sugar are the holy trinity of true richness.
Paris Pastry — February 1, 2011 @ 6:18 am
Ah, it looks so gorgeous!! It’s true, everything turns into an excuse to bake, and soon, you can’t live without any baked goods in your kitchen. Sob.
Katrina — February 1, 2011 @ 7:54 am
Great pie recipe! This look amazing.
joanne — February 1, 2011 @ 9:49 am
I totally know what you mean. If I don’t bake once a week, my fingers start to itch. Literally. So I am always trying to find excuses to bring someone some baked good…because I just can’t have them sitting in my apartment.
Although this pie? i’d be pretty damn happy with. I don’t think I’d want to share.
Biz — February 1, 2011 @ 10:59 am
That crust looks insanely delicious! I’ve never heard of that pie, but it looks like a winner
Barbara Bakes — February 1, 2011 @ 6:28 pm
What a fabulous pie! The crust is a gorgeous color. What a lucky friend!
Abby — February 1, 2011 @ 8:06 pm
Those pictures totally made my mouth water. I LOVE PIE.
Lori — February 1, 2011 @ 10:46 pm
Love what you said about baking the night before you travel. That’s me too! This pie is outstanding. Such a great twist on the standard pecan and Derby pies that can be found around here all the time.
5 Star Foodie — February 2, 2011 @ 8:18 am
Such a yummy looking pie! I love the addition of bourbon here!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking — February 2, 2011 @ 11:41 am
Oh my goodness, that is one gorgeous pie, and with lovely flavors reminiscent of fall! Love that you used bourbon, too. All around a wonderful recipe! You have a beautiful blog, and I’m so glad to have found it. Keep up the delicious baking! – Georgia
cait — February 3, 2011 @ 1:55 am
wow what a gorgeous and delish pie! nom nom! happy baking!
Megan — February 3, 2011 @ 9:27 am
I totally agree! I can be anywhere and hear something and automatically start to think…”oooh, I can bake – this weekend!!!” Your friend is lucky to have such an awesome baker around! This pie looks amazing…and with bourbon?! Yes, please!
Monique — February 3, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
Wow. this looks amazing!
i havent baked in weeks. thats too long…. but ive also been sick (again) so i cannot wait to make something. anything!
Emily — February 3, 2011 @ 2:37 pm
I know I would love this pie. Those are two of my most favorite flavors ever. I think you’re awesome.
melissa guzman — February 3, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
love your blog!!!! you are too cute! Love Love Loove!!!
fyi… going to make your aroz con leche today!
Mary Moh — February 4, 2011 @ 3:57 pm
I love to cook but I also enjoy baking, though not very good. Still learning. Totally agree with you, when you love to do something, you will always find an excuse to do it
Love your maple walnut pie. Looks really delicious. Would be lovely with a cup of tea…mmm